English Grammar : Narration / Direct and Indirect Speech

ENGLISH GRAMMAR

DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH (NARRATION)

Introduction
Direct Speech means using the exact words of the speaker inside quotation marks.
Example: Ram said, “I am busy.”

Indirect Speech means reporting the speaker’s words without quotation marks.
Example: Ram said that he was busy.

Rule 1. Reporting Verbs
The words used to introduce speech are called reporting verbs.
said is used without an object.
told is used with an object.
asked is used for questions.
ordered, requested, advised, suggested are used for commands, requests and advice.

Rule 2. Changes in Pronouns
First person pronouns change according to the subject.
Second person pronouns change according to the object.
Third person pronouns do not change.

Example
Direct: He said to me, “You are kind.”
Indirect: He told me that I was kind.

Rule 3. Changes in Tenses
When the reporting verb is in the past, the tense of reported speech becomes one step past.
Simple Present changes to Simple Past.
Present Continuous changes to Past Continuous.
Present Perfect changes to Past Perfect.
Simple Past changes to Past Perfect.

Universal truths do not change.
Direct: Teacher said, “The Earth moves around the Sun.”
Indirect: Teacher said that the Earth moves around the Sun.

Rule 4. Changes in Time and Place words
now becomes then
today becomes that day
tomorrow becomes the next day
yesterday becomes the previous day
here becomes there
this becomes that
these become those

Rule 5. Changing Different Types of Sentences

Statements
Add the word that.
Direct: She said, “I am happy.”
Indirect: She said that she was happy.

Yes or No Questions
Use asked and if or whether.
Direct: He said, “Do you like music”
Indirect: He asked if I liked music.

Wh Questions
Keep the wh word.
Direct: She said, “Where are you going”
Indirect: She asked where I was going.

Imperatives
Use to before the verb.
Direct: He said, “Close the door”
Indirect: He ordered me to close the door.

Requests
Use requested to.
Direct: She said, “Please help me”
Indirect: She requested me to help her.

Advice
Use advised to.
Direct: Father said, “Work hard”
Indirect: Father advised me to work hard.

Exclamatory Sentences
Use exclaimed with joy, sorrow or wonder.
Direct: He said, “Alas I am ruined”
Indirect: He exclaimed with sorrow that he was ruined.

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Practice Exercises
Change into Indirect Speech

1. He said, “I am feeling hungry.”
2. Rina said, “We have completed the work.”
3. They said, “She goes to school every day.”
4. The boy said, “I shall return soon.”
5. She told me, “You are my best friend.”
6. He said to her, “Do you like chocolate”
7. The teacher said to me, “Have you finished your homework”
8. She said, “Where are you going”
9. He said to me, “Why are you crying”
10. Mother said to Riya, “When will you come back”
11. He said to me, “Open the door”
12. She said to him, “Please lend me your pen”
13. Father said to me, “Work hard”
14. The doctor said to the patient, “Take this medicine daily”
15. The captain said to the players, “Do not lose hope”
16. She said, “What a beautiful flower it is”
17. He said, “Alas I failed the test”
18. The boys said, “Hurrah We won the match”

Change into Direct Speech

19. She said that she was busy.
20. He asked me if I had seen his bag.
21. The teacher ordered the students to keep quiet.
22. She exclaimed with joy that she had passed.
23. Father advised me to obey the elders.

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Answer Key

1. He said that he was feeling hungry.
2. Rina said that they had completed the work.
3. They said that she went to school every day.
4. The boy said that he would return soon.
5. She told me that I was her best friend.
6. He asked her if she liked chocolate.
7. The teacher asked me if I had finished my homework.
8. She asked where I was going.
9. He asked me why I was crying.
10. Mother asked Riya when she would come back.
11. He ordered me to open the door.
12. She requested him to lend her his pen.
13. Father advised me to work hard.
14. The doctor advised the patient to take the medicine daily.
15. The captain told the players not to lose hope.
16. She exclaimed that it was a very beautiful flower.
17. He exclaimed with sorrow that he had failed the test.
18. The boys exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
19. She said, “I am busy.”
20. He said to me, “Did you see my bag”
21. The teacher said to the students, “Keep quiet”
22. She said, “Hurrah I have passed”
23. Father said to me, “Obey the elders”